Floor mat



Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN JOSEPH OTOOLE, F IBELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA.

I FLOOR MAT.

Application filed August 10,1925. Serial No. 49,490.

My invention relates to floor mats and particularly to sanitary liquid-impervious mats for placing around toilet receptacles or similar devices where a floor islikely to become soiled or damaged.

One object of my invention is to provide a mat, of the above indicated character, that shall protect the floor at both the front and sides of the object for cooperation with which it is adapted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a floor mat that may be readily fitted to the base contours of similar objects of different shapes and sizes.

Another object of my invention is toprovide a floor mat that shall be so shaped relative to an object on the floor as to be normally maintained in position by the object but that may be readily lifted for cleaning.

Another object of my invention is to provide a floor mat that shall prevent the flow of liquid from the surface thereof to the floor.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 25 vide a floor mat that shall be so ventilated on its under surface as to prevent damage to the floor and mat by liquid deposits therebetween.

A further object of my invention is to provide a floor mat thatshall be simple and durable in construction and economical .to manufacture;

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages WhlCll may be incident to the utilization of the improvement, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion arrangement and texture without departing-from the nature and scope of the invention.

While my invention may find several useful applications, such as around steam radiators and the like, where water is likely to be deposited on the floor, it is particularly concerned with the locations of toilet receptacles and other more frequented placesor where the effects of similar deposits are more damaging and objectionable.

Accordingly, in practicing my invention, I provide a floor mat that,in contradistinction to the usual mats of rectangular, round, oval and other shapes and having no definite location unless they are secured to the floor, is adapted to so fit around an object on the floor as to be normally held in, position by the object. The mat'of my invention is further preferably impervious to liquid, prevents the flow of liquid therefrom, is ventilated to prevent unsanitary or damaging conditions thereunder and is so constructed as to be readily adapted to co-operate with objects ofslightly difierent base contours.

l/Vhile I am aware that floor coverings of various kinds have been capable of cutting to fit them around objects on floors and that they have.been so cut, I am not aware that unitary mats, as articles of manufacture, havebeen prepared in advance for co-operation with any particular setof objects as is the mat of my invention.

In order to make the invention more clear- I 1y understood, means are shown in the accompanying drawing for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular construction which, for the purpose of explanation, arexmade the subject of illustration.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, is a plan view of a floor mat constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of my invention, similar to a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1,

-Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2, showing the adaptation of the device of Fig. 1 to objects of different character, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view, partially in section, of a portion of the device shown in the other figures. t In Figure 1, my improved floor mat,

shown as originally constructed and ready for the market, comprises a body 1 of sheetlike, liquid-impervious material, such'as rubber, having a raised border or liquid-guard portion 2 on its upper surface, an opening 3. in one side thereof, a portion 4 between'the border 2 andthe opening 3 for fitting the mat to an object, and corrugations 5 on the under surface thereof to provide ventilation between the mat and the floor.

The liquid-guard portion 2 may be disposed inwardly from the outer edges of the mat and may also be in the form of a groove or channel instead of a raised portion, the

purpose thereof being to prevent the flow of liquid from the mat to the floor. However, at its position around the opening 3, it is preferably constituted as reinforcing means having stiffness relative to the portion 4,

so that the latter may be cut or trimmed without danger of cutting into the main body of the mat. Such reinforcing means may, however, be readily provided in addition to the liquid guard.

One aspect of my invention, however, contemplates a mere marking, ornamental if desired, appearing somewhat as does the border 2 around the opening 3. whereby the general area to be cut out is plainly defined.

The mat, as illustrated in Fig. 1, may be fitted around the base contours of certain toilet receptacles or other device, without any alteration therein, or the portion 4 may be provided with radial-cuts 7, as shown in Fig. 2, either by the manufacturer or dealer, or by the purchaser, if necessary.

The portion 4, which may be of different thickness from the main body of the mat but which is preferably of the same thickness or thinner readily adapts the mat for fittin to objects, such as closet bowls, having 13%16 same general base contours but of slightly different areas and shapes.

Such adaptation is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 3 the portion 4: is shown as trimmed to fit an object having curved or oval outline and, in Fig. 4:, the portion 4: is shown as cut to fit an object having a straight-line contour.

As shown in Fig. 5, the mat is provided with corrugations 5 or other suitable means for admitting air from around the edges of the mat to the underside thereof.

When in service, as in connection with a toilet receptacle, the mat is fitted to the ob ject by placing the object in the opening 3, so that the floor at both the front and sides of the receptacle is protected, these being ordinarily the only portions of the floor needing protection. When in position around the receptacle, the mat is prevented from ready accidental displacement but may be lifted, as any ordinary mat, for cleaning.

Being preferably constructed as one homogenous mass of liquid-impervious material,

such as rubber, cleaning may readily be effected and, by reason of the presence of the corrugations 5 and the ventilation afforded thereby, the mat may be replaced around the receptacle, after cleaning, before it is thoroughly dry. Thus, moisture of' any kind which might find its 'way under the mat is prevented from causing damage or unsanitary conditions.

The mat of'my invention serves not only as a usual mat to prevent wear in places where wear is above the ordinary but also prevents other damage to the floor, obyia-tes unsanitary conditions, facilitates housework and is, in general, an improvement in the service for which it is adapted.

Other advantages are that, unlike ordinary mats, it retains its position and may be readily lifted without manipulating special fastening means, is easy to clean and is simple in construction and economical in its manufacture. a

I claim as my invention:

1. A floor mat comprising a body of sheetlike material having a permanently-defined portion substantially conforming to the base contour of any one of objects for disposition on the floor and having bases of slightly varying contour which the mat is to embrace and a portion inside said defined, portion adapted to be reshaped in accordance with any one of said contours.

2. Avfioor mat comprising abody of sheetlike material having a marking thereon of substantially U-shape, the ends of the marking being disposed adjacent to an edge of the sheet and the marking enclosing a portion of the mat adapted to be reshaped in accordance with the base contour of any one of objects for disposition on the floor and having bases of slightly varying contour which the-mat is to embrace.

3. A floor mat comprising a body of liquid-impervious sheet-like material having a liquid-guard portion of substantially U- shape, the-ends of saidportion being disposed adjacent to an edge of the sheet and the guard embracing a portion of the sheet adapted to be reshaped inaccordance with the base contour of anyone of objects for disposition on the floor and having bases of sli htly varyingcontour which the mat is to em race.

4. A floor 'mat comprising a body of liquid-impervious sheet-like material including a raised liquid-guard portion of substantially U-shape on one surface of the sheet having its ends disposed adjacent to an edge of the sheet and embracing a portion of the sheet substantially conforming to and adapted to embrace, any one of objects for disppsi tion on the floor and having bases of slightly varying contour.

5. A floor mat comprising a body of sheet-like material having portions separated from a position inwardly on the sheet to a position at an edge thereof and joined by a portion inwardly beyond said first position, said sheet having a markin embracing the adjacent separated edges 0 said separated portions and a portion inside said markin adapted to be reshaped in accordance wlth the-base contour of any one of objects-fordisposition on the floor and hav- JOHN JOSEPH OTOOLE.

have hereunto 

